Description: UK author Simon G. Powell takes a look at the resurgence of scientific interest in psilocybin (the active ingredient of psychedelic mushrooms), in particular the work being done by the Heffter Research Institute. Archive footage is shown of psychedelic research in the 1950s and 1960s, and the anti-psychedelic media propaganda that was eventually used to quell the growing popularity of recreational LSD use. Includes exclusive interview material with Dennis McKenna, Roland Griffiths, David Nichols, and Bill Linton (all of the Heffter) along with archive clips of Timothy Leary. The film explores the importance of the psilocybin experience and the pressing issue of extending its legitimate use toward healthy people. Special attention is given to the potential eco-psychological impact of psilocybin. Running time: 52 minutes.

Microdosing: Psychedelics for Leadership Development and Workflow Optimization

Prominent visionaries, thought-leaders, and scientists have attributed aspects of their professional success to the use of psychedelic substances. Examples include Steve Jobs, Aldous Huxley, and Francis Crick, co-discoverer of the DNA molecule.

More recently, renowned thought-leader and Silicon Valley investor Tim Ferriss said he knows many successful entrepreneurs who use psychedelics:"The billionaires I know, almost without exception, use hallucinogens on a regular basis. [They're] trying to be very disruptive and look at the problems in the world ... and ask completely new questions."

Enter micro-dosing.

As an entrepreneur, you have likely witnessed the meteoric rise of interest in the consumption of low-doses of psychedelics for creativity and personal wellness. Tech media outlets like Wired, the Verge, and the Hustle have covered this growing phenomenon, and how high-functioning members of entrepreneurial communities leverage it for improved mental acuity and reductions in anxiety.In his talk, Paul details how micro-dosing is more accessible than high-level doses on a day to day basis, and how technologists and entrepreneurs can leverage its potential to work more efficient, not longer, hours. Outlining the potential benefits of micro-dosing from the standpoints of productivity, mental wellness/clarity, and personal development, and how enhancements in these spheres naturally foster growth towards social entrepreneurship, community building, and the strengthening of relationships founded on trust rather than contracts. He also details practicalities and protocols of micro-dosing while debunking myths of a decades-long taboo around psychedelic substances.

Paul is committed to changing the cultural conversation about psychedelics through his platform, The Third Wave.

Part social entrepreneur, part psychedelic advocate, Paul pushes accepted norms to develop more effective systems in which we live. Considered an expert on the burgeoning topic of microdosing, he has hosted seminars for hundreds of people in places like Berlin, Amsterdam, Portland, and New York City.

For three years, Paul built and ran a remote online teaching business while living in Thailand, Portugal, and Mexico. He is currently in the process of establishing a Public Benefit Corporation focused on responsibly re-integrating psychedelics into Western society.

"Psilocybin mushrooms have been used for millennia, and likely for millions of years. That psilocybin enhances neurotransmission has attracted the interest of pharmacologists, evolutionary biologists, ethnomycologists, artists, writers and more recently addiction and trauma specialists, and computer language coders. The interest in the benefits of psilocybin mushroom use, particularly, for microdosing, ushers in a new era for potential societal benefits across many scientific disciplines. Paul will examine the Stoned Ape Theory, recap some significant historical milestones, and describe some of the more significant psilocybin active species, discussing the future beneficial impacts of psilocybin use in our continuing evolution as a species.

Paul Stamets, D.Sc., is the author of 6 books, including Psilocybe Mushrooms and their Allies and Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World. He has discovered and named four new psilocybin mushrooms. He has received numerous awards, most notably as an Invention Ambassador (2014-2015) for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the National Award (2014) from the North American Mycological Association Award (NAMA) and Gordon & Tina Wasson Award (2015) from the Mycological Society of America (MSA). His influence has now flowed into popular sci-fi culture with his appointment as the senior science Starfleet officer, astromycologist Lt. Stamets (acted by Anthony Rapp), in the new Star Trek Discovery series."

Leading psychopharmacologist Roland Griffiths discloses the ways that psychedelic drugs can be used to create spiritually meaningful, personally transformative experiences for all patients, especially the terminally ill.